V1:19- Categories of Tawhid
- 3 years ago
19- Categories of Tawhid
Q: What are the categories of Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism)? Is the Muslim required to believe in all these categories? Is it enough for the Muslim to confess Shahadah (Testimony of Faith)?
A: There are three categories of Tawhid which have been defined by means of induction. These categories include Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Allah's Lordship), Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship), and Tawhid-ul-Asma' wal-Sifat (Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes). It is enough for the person to sincerely declare that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah (Exalted be He) and that Muhammad is the Messenger ﷺ ). People who declare Shahadah are called Muslims because Shahadah means to believe in Allah as one's Lord and Creator, and to believe that He Alone is worthy of worship, and to believe in His Names and Attributes. Therefore, to declare that there is no god but Allah involves belief in the concept of Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah and Tawhid-ul-Asma' wal-Sifat. Allah (Glorified be He) is the True God Who is the Lord and Creator of all things. His Being, Names, Attributes and Actions are perfect. Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah is based on the fundamental concept that Allah is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, while Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah is based on the fundamental concept that Allah Alone is worthy of worship and that all other gods invoked along with Him are false deities, whether they be inanimate objects, animals, kings, prophets, or anything else. It is an invalid worship to invoke others along with Allah (Exalted be He). That is because Allah, He is the Truth, and that which they invoke besides Him is Al-Batil (falsehood, Satan and all other false deities) Hence, all objects invoked in worship along with Allah are false, whether they happen to be messengers, kings, jinn, stones, trees or anything else of the sort. The same applies to belief in Allah's Names and Attributes. It is enough for the Muslim to believe that to Allah belongs the Most Beautiful Names and Sublime Attributes and that Allah's Being, Attributes and Actions are all perfect. For, Tawhid-ul-Asma 1 wal-Sifat means to believe that Allah (Glorified be He) is described by His Most Beautiful Names and Sublime Attributes, that there is no one like Him, while Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah means to believe that Allah (Exalted be He) is the Creator, Sustainer and Disposer of all affairs. There is no Creator beside Him nor is there any other lord. In addition, Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah means to believe that Allah (Exalted be He) Alone is worthy of worship, the One Who should be invoked and sought for help. Vows and sacrificial animals must be dedicated to Him Alone. All acts of worship like Salah (Prayer), Sawm (fast), Dua`a (supplication), and sacrificial animals should be directed to Him. If a person declares Shahadah, this means they are saying that Allah (Exalted be He) is the Only One worthy of worship, the Creator, the Sustainer and that His Being, Names and Attributes are perfect.
[Vol. 1, Page No. 63-64]
Q: What are the categories of Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism)? Is the Muslim required to believe in all these categories? Is it enough for the Muslim to confess Shahadah (Testimony of Faith)?
A: There are three categories of Tawhid which have been defined by means of induction. These categories include Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Allah's Lordship), Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship), and Tawhid-ul-Asma' wal-Sifat (Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes). It is enough for the person to sincerely declare that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah (Exalted be He) and that Muhammad is the Messenger ﷺ ). People who declare Shahadah are called Muslims because Shahadah means to believe in Allah as one's Lord and Creator, and to believe that He Alone is worthy of worship, and to believe in His Names and Attributes. Therefore, to declare that there is no god but Allah involves belief in the concept of Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah and Tawhid-ul-Asma' wal-Sifat. Allah (Glorified be He) is the True God Who is the Lord and Creator of all things. His Being, Names, Attributes and Actions are perfect. Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah is based on the fundamental concept that Allah is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, while Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah is based on the fundamental concept that Allah Alone is worthy of worship and that all other gods invoked along with Him are false deities, whether they be inanimate objects, animals, kings, prophets, or anything else. It is an invalid worship to invoke others along with Allah (Exalted be He). That is because Allah, He is the Truth, and that which they invoke besides Him is Al-Batil (falsehood, Satan and all other false deities) Hence, all objects invoked in worship along with Allah are false, whether they happen to be messengers, kings, jinn, stones, trees or anything else of the sort. The same applies to belief in Allah's Names and Attributes. It is enough for the Muslim to believe that to Allah belongs the Most Beautiful Names and Sublime Attributes and that Allah's Being, Attributes and Actions are all perfect. For, Tawhid-ul-Asma 1 wal-Sifat means to believe that Allah (Glorified be He) is described by His Most Beautiful Names and Sublime Attributes, that there is no one like Him, while Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah means to believe that Allah (Exalted be He) is the Creator, Sustainer and Disposer of all affairs. There is no Creator beside Him nor is there any other lord. In addition, Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah means to believe that Allah (Exalted be He) Alone is worthy of worship, the One Who should be invoked and sought for help. Vows and sacrificial animals must be dedicated to Him Alone. All acts of worship like Salah (Prayer), Sawm (fast), Dua`a (supplication), and sacrificial animals should be directed to Him. If a person declares Shahadah, this means they are saying that Allah (Exalted be He) is the Only One worthy of worship, the Creator, the Sustainer and that His Being, Names and Attributes are perfect.
[Vol. 1, Page No. 63-64]